El Realejo
| El Realejo | |
|---|---|
  El Realejo Location in Nicaragua | |
| Coordinates: 12°32′N 87°10′W / 12.533°N 87.167°W | |
| Country | Nicaragua |
| Department | Chinandega |
| Municipality | El Realejo |
| Founded | 1532 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Rafael Blanco Reyes |
| Population (2005) | |
| • City | 8,838 |
| • Urban | 3,954 |
El Realejo is a municipality in the Chinandega department of Nicaragua.
History
The town of El Realejo was constructed in 1532, during the first years of Spanish colonization. During this period it served as Nicaragua's principal port, and remained so until the beginning of the 17th century, when pirate attacks started to threaten the towns commercial life-line. The importance of El Realejo was further diminished by the construction of Corinto, which came to be Nicaragua's new principal port.[1]
Economy
Today, the economy is based on agriculture, fishing, and the raising of animals. El Realejo is characterized by open expanses of tropical savannah that give way to mountains and beaches. [2]
Coordinates: 12°32′N 87°10′W / 12.533°N 87.167°W
References
Capital: Chinandega | ||
| Municipalities |  | |
